Western Australia nurse who allegedly faked giving Covid vaccine to teenager charged - The Guardian Australia

A nurse in Western Australia has been charged after allegedly faking the Covid-19 vaccination of the teenage child of someone she knows.

The 51-year-old registered nurse was arrested and charged with gains benefit by fraud on Sunday after the Perth medical centre where she worked reported her to WA police.

Police say the nurse was approved by her employer to administer Covid-19 vaccines to people she knows, and on Sunday, the teenage child of an acquaintance was booked to be vaccinated at the clinic.

After the medical centre reported her to police, she was arrested in Byford, and charged with one count of gains benefit by fraud. The nurse was refused bail and is set to appear in the Perth magistrates court on Monday.

WA police say the investigation is ongoing.

Police in the Germany case said at the time her motives were not clear, but said in social media posts the nurse had expressed scepticism about vaccination.

Western Australia is furthest behind the vaccination rollout in any state or territory in Australia, with 66.5% of the population 16 years and over having had both doses, compared to 80.5% as the national average.

The WA government last week announced it would not ease its strong border controls until 90% of the population 12 years and over has received two vaccine doses.